Pennsylvania News

U.S. Sen. Arlen Specter has been defeated in a Pennsylvania primary in his bid for a sixth term after taking the risky step of switching to the Democratic Party.

Voters endorsed U.S. Rep. Joe Sestak as the party’s nominee and rejected the 80-year-old Specter in his first Democratic campaign. Specter was formally a powerful Republican before switching to the Democratic party.

Specter says he has called Sestak to congratulate him and tell him he thinks it’s vital to keep the seat in the Democratic Party.

The vote also was a defeat for President Barack Obama, who supported Specter when he abandoned the Republican Party last year.

The moderate Specter cast his switch as a decision of principle after inflaming the GOP by voting for Obama’s economic stimulus bill. But many Democratic voters questioned his motives.

Sestak will face Republican Pat Toomey in the fall election.

Pennsylvania legislators are expected to continue working on the Pennsylvania budget over the weekend. They are expected to go through a long list of differences over the budget.

A vote on the budget is not expected until at least Tuesday.

Gov Ed Rendell has been concerned about a new arts tax

Pennsylvania lawmakers are set to resume discussion on the state budget. A tentative deal was reached three days ago.

The six member panel was set to resume talking mid-afternoon today. However, the nearly $28 billion deal does not come without a price.

The budget planned call for an increase in business and cigarette taxes, table games at slots casinos,and expanded gas drilling on state owned lands.

Gov. Ed Rendell has threatened to veto the budget saying the numbers do not add up and there is not enough funding for health care and education.

Legislators have responded by saying they have enough votes from both parties to pass the budget.

Gov. Rendell talking to reporters about the Pennsylvania budget